Namouna (Lalo ballet)
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Namouna is a ballet in two acts and three scenes, with music by Edouard Lalo, choreographed by Lucien Petipa and premiered in Paris in 1882.[2]
The basis of the ballet's scenario, by Charles Nuitter and Lucien Petipa are part of Casanova's Mémoires de Jacques Casanova[3] (the two-act opera by Bizet to a libretto by Louis Gallet, originally to be entitled Namouna begun in 1871 was based on the work of the same name by Musset, but which was changed to Djamileh.[4])
By the time of the commission from the Opéra, Lalo had been labelled as a symphonist due to his experience as a chamber music viola player and the majority of works he had completed up to then. Vaucorbeil, director of the Opéra, gave him a scenario for a ballet adapted by Blaze de Bury from the Mémoires of Casanova, leaving him little time for the composition. On 10 December 1881 Lalo suffered a hemiplegic attack and was asked by Vaucorbeil to submit the unfinished score, but a dispute with the Lalo family was avoided when Gounod and others stepped in to help finish score it.[5] The premiere was at the Théâtre de l'Opéra, Paris, on 6 March 1882.[6] The Danse de Namouna in act 2, through its flute solo, was dedicated to Paul Taffanel.[7]
The ballet was first seen at the Théâtre de l'Opéra, Paris, on 6 March 1882 on a bill following a performance of Le Comte Ory.[3] The original scenery was credited to Rube, Chaperon, and J. B. Lavastre, with costumes by Eugène Lacoste.[6] A pastel Ballet Scene (c1887-90) by Degas is believed to be based on an ensemble scene in act 2 of the ballet.[8]
In 1886 the premiere production of Messager's Les Deux Pigeons re-used stage designs and sets from Namouna.[9] A revival with new choreography by Léo Staats happened at the Opéra in 1908, and his version was revised by Albert Aveline for a production in 1935.[7]Later, Serge Lifar used much of the score for his ballet Suite en blanc (1943), retaining the titles of movements from the original score.[10]
Roles
| Role | Premiere Cast |
|---|---|
| Namouna | Rita Sangalli |
| Don Ottavio | Louis Mérante |
| Adriani | Pluque |
| Ali | Cornet |
| Andriquès | Alice Biot |
| Kitzos | Ajas |
| Iotis | Julia Subra |
| Hélène | Mlle. Invernizzi |
| Khainitza | Mlle. Mercédès |
